Christian Rock

Gathering at a convention center to take in a rock concert doesn't sound like the usual venue, but Christian rocker Jeremy Camp is bringing his Restored Tour 2005 to the Hampton Roads Convention Center tonight. Camp is joined by Tree63 and Bethany Dillon at 7 p.m. at the convention center, next to the Hampton Coliseum. Tickets are $20 in advance and can be purchased at Heaven and Earth, Harvest, Family and Lifeway Christian Bookstores; online at www.itickets.com or by phone at (800)

Third Day singer and founding member Mac Powell doesn't back down from a challenge. He's one Christian rocker who seems to relish a taste of adversity. That might be why Third Day is currently on the road with another of Christian rock's biggest acts, Skillet. That Memphis band has succeeded in attracting mainstream rock fans with hit tunes including "Monster," "Awake and Alive" and "Not Gonna Die. " Third Day, meanwhile, has mainly ruled on the Christian singles chart with tracks such as "Born Again" from 2009 and "I Need a Miracle" from 2012.

Virginia Symphony Orchestra Virginia Symphony Orchestra will perform Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 — which includes the famous "Ode to Joy" — three times this weekend, each time bolstered by the orchestra's chorus and guest soloists. The first blast of melody comes 8 tonight at Ferguson Center for the Arts, Newport News. Second is 8 p.m. Saturday at Chrysler Hall, Norfolk. Third is 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, Virginia Beach.

Suddenly, three has become the magic number on the local music scene. high-quality choices. Lovers of classical music can head to Ferguson Center for the Arts in Newport News tonight to hear the Virginia Symphony Orchestra performances of the masterwork this weekend. Country fans will want to scoot over to Hampton Coliseum on Saturday for Winterblast 2010, a festival built around up-and-coming Nashville acts. Christian rock devotees will congregate at Scope in Norfolk on Sunday for Winter Jam 2010, a festival featuring Third WINTERBLAST 2010 Winterblast is a one-day festival featuring emerging country music artists.

SEX AND CHURCH. "Set Free" Ministries, which seeks to provide hope and healing to individuals overcoming sexual and relational brokeness, will present a program at 10 a.m. Sunday at Grace Episcopal Church. The church is at 72 Walnut Ave. in Newport News. The ministry supports friends, family and churches who are responding to individuals who seek Christ yet find their sexual feelings or actions in conflict with that desire. CHRISTIAN ROCK. Derek Webb (pictured) and Sandra McCracken, along with local Christian rock band "Nevertheless" will present a concert at 7:30 p.m. tonight at Calvary Assembly of God Church.

Winter Jam 2005 brings the best of Christian rock to the Constant Convocation Center at 6 p.m. on Saturday. The event will be hosted by Grammy-nominated group NewSong. Other performers include TAIT, Building 429, Rachael Lampa and Matthew West. Fans of dcTalk can see TobyMac, shown, and Michael Tait together again. Chaos on Wheels, a BMX bicycle stunt show, performs at 5:30 p.m. Admission is free, but $10 donations will be accepted at the door. For more information, call 683-5000 or visit www.constantcenter.

Suddenly, three has become the magic number on the local music scene. high-quality choices. Lovers of classical music can head to Ferguson Center for the Arts in Newport News tonight to hear the Virginia Symphony Orchestra performances of the masterwork this weekend. Country fans will want to scoot over to Hampton Coliseum on Saturday for Winterblast 2010, a festival built around up-and-coming Nashville acts. Christian rock devotees will congregate at Scope in Norfolk on Sunday for Winter Jam 2010, a festival featuring Third WINTERBLAST 2010 Winterblast is a one-day festival featuring emerging country music artists.

BAND NAME: Richard Ryan WHO'S IN IT: Songwriter/studio musician Richard HOME BASE: Newport News SOUND: Original alternative and acoustic rock BIGGEST MOMENT: Coming in second at the Greensleeves Foundation Music Festival for acoustic guitar in 1991 in Richmond and hearing my radio jingles on the air. BAND NIGHTMARE: Falling off the stage at a gig in Richmond NEXT GIG (LOCATION, DATE) : Spring outdoor music festivals in Hampton Roads and Richmond CURRENTLY LISTENING TO: Neil Young, Stephen Stills, early Poco, Alice in Chains and Christian rock There are lots of talented bands working the Hampton Roads scene these days.

In the world of Christian rock, Pure Metal Records mines gold. It launched the career of famed Christian headbangers Stryper and numerous other bands rocking with religion. Hampton-based musician Brian Whited, 19, hopes his career will move along the same path. His single, "Heaven Can't Wait," has been picked up as part of a new artists' compilation album being distributed later this month by Pure Metal. It's expected to be sold at all the mainstream area record stores. "I always thought I was too rock 'n' roll for Christian music and too Christian for rock 'n' roll," said Whited, with long blond hair and a penchant for playing raucous guitar solos.

Third Day singer and founding member Mac Powell doesn't back down from a challenge. He's one Christian rocker who seems to relish a taste of adversity. That might be why Third Day is currently on the road with another of Christian rock's biggest acts, Skillet. That Memphis band has succeeded in attracting mainstream rock fans with hit tunes including "Monster," "Awake and Alive" and "Not Gonna Die. " Third Day, meanwhile, has mainly ruled on the Christian singles chart with tracks such as "Born Again" from 2009 and "I Need a Miracle" from 2012.

Virginia Symphony Orchestra Virginia Symphony Orchestra will perform Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 — which includes the famous "Ode to Joy" — three times this weekend, each time bolstered by the orchestra's chorus and guest soloists. The first blast of melody comes 8 tonight at Ferguson Center for the Arts, Newport News. Second is 8 p.m. Saturday at Chrysler Hall, Norfolk. Third is 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, Virginia Beach.

Gathering at a convention center to take in a rock concert doesn't sound like the usual venue, but Christian rocker Jeremy Camp is bringing his Restored Tour 2005 to the Hampton Roads Convention Center tonight. Camp is joined by Tree63 and Bethany Dillon at 7 p.m. at the convention center, next to the Hampton Coliseum. Tickets are $20 in advance and can be purchased at Heaven and Earth, Harvest, Family and Lifeway Christian Bookstores; online at www.itickets.com or by phone at (800)

Winter Jam 2005 brings the best of Christian rock to the Constant Convocation Center at 6 p.m. on Saturday. The event will be hosted by Grammy-nominated group NewSong. Other performers include TAIT, Building 429, Rachael Lampa and Matthew West. Fans of dcTalk can see TobyMac, shown, and Michael Tait together again. Chaos on Wheels, a BMX bicycle stunt show, performs at 5:30 p.m. Admission is free, but $10 donations will be accepted at the door. For more information, call 683-5000 or visit www.constantcenter.

SEX AND CHURCH. "Set Free" Ministries, which seeks to provide hope and healing to individuals overcoming sexual and relational brokeness, will present a program at 10 a.m. Sunday at Grace Episcopal Church. The church is at 72 Walnut Ave. in Newport News. The ministry supports friends, family and churches who are responding to individuals who seek Christ yet find their sexual feelings or actions in conflict with that desire. CHRISTIAN ROCK. Derek Webb (pictured) and Sandra McCracken, along with local Christian rock band "Nevertheless" will present a concert at 7:30 p.m. tonight at Calvary Assembly of God Church.

Saving Sam, 1997-2002. Rock in peace. The popular Newport News-based Christian rock group Saving Sam will say so long with a farewell concert for its fans at Shadrach's Coffeehouse at 8 tonight. Singing over guitar chords about the grace of God and the struggles of everyday people was the group's sonic signature. A link to those chords and a terse message from the five-man band is all that remains on the group's Web site, www.savingsam.com. "It's been a great five years.

The handwritten message taped to the door enticed a few lanky teen-agers making their nighttime rounds. "No cover, no ID, come on up!" So, hearing the promising pulse of the progressive band on stage, they walked up the steps into one of Virginia Beach's many nightclubs, the Fire Escape. There they discovered something they found not-so enticing: no beer. "Let's get outta here," they said as they made tracks for the door. The taps are dry, the air is smoke-free and the language is clean at the Fire Escape at 17th Street and Pacific Avenue.

Amy Grant, Sixpence None the Richer and Saving Sam. Maybe Saving Sam. Next month, Saving Sam, known locally as the hardest working Christian band on the Peninsula, takes another step closer to popular commercial success, sometimes described as "crossing over." Philip Poteat, 24, a founding member of Saving Sam, understands that their Aug. 3 gig opening before several thousand teens at a youth evangelization convention could lead to a recording contract and quitting their day jobs.

After posting 29 No. 1 contemporary Christian singles and selling more than four million albums Steven Curtis Chapman decided to take a break. He took 1998 off to spend time with his family and think about his future. Now he's back. Chapman is again set to preach his pop gospel in Hampton Roads. He'll perform 7 p.m. Monday at Rock Church, 640 Kempsville Road, Virginia Beach. The nine-time Gospel Music Association Songwriter of the Year is currently promoting his album "Speechless," which was released in June.